Scouring device fabricated from tubular knit metallic mesh and method of making same



INV ENT OR.

Sept-v 9, 1947- '.A. M. GooDLoE `v SCOURING DEVICE FABRICATED FROM TUBULAR KNIT METALLIC MESH AND METHOD. 0F MAKING SAME l v Filed Jan. 9, 194e Sept. 9, 1947. A, M GOODLOE 2,427,274

scoUEING DEvIcE FABRICATED FROM TUBULAR KNIT METALLIC MESH AND METHOD 0F MAKING SAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.` 9, 1946 INVENTOR. ed'jfaaloe, ma

A. M. GooDLoE DURING DEVICE FABRIGATED FROM TUBULAR KNIT I METALLIC MESH-AND METHOD vO1" MAKING 'SA A; Sept. 1947. I l

Filed Jan. sa, 19461- s sheets-sheet s Patented Sept. 9, 1947 SCOURING DEVICE FABRICATED FROM TUBULAR KNIT METALLIC MESH AND METHOD OF MAKING .SAME

Alfred M. Goodloe, Montclair, N. J., assigner to Metal Textile Corporation, West range,`N. J.,

a corporation of Delaware Application January 9, 1946, Serial No. 639,995

5 Claims.

This invention has reference, generally, to y improvements in abrasive cleaning or scouring devices; and .the invention relates, more parscraping efectin cleansing or scouring operations, and toa novel method of producing the implement from a tubular` knit metallic mesh fabric.

The invention has for an objectvto provide a novel abrasive implement produced in a novel manner whereby to furnish a compact and easily handled device for effecting abrasive cleaning and scouring action; the novel construction of whichpermits the implement, when cleansing of the implement per se is required, to be quickly and easily opened out to expose the major areas of its knitted fabric material to be itself cleaned, and, after such cleaning, being adapted to be quickly and easily returned to its initial body formation.

The invention has for another object to provide an abrasive implement of novel body form, which furnishes a completely integrated, selfretained resilient body mass, requiring no applied extraneousfastener means for holding it to shape, While nevertheless being little likely to stretch out of shape or become stringy; and yet, by reason of the knitted metallic fabric of which it is made, possessing an interstitial or spongiform structure well adapted to permit flow therethrough of cleaning iiuids utilized therewith in a cleaning or scouring operation.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l'is a face view of the novel scouring implement made according to and embodying the principles of this invention.

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are respectively schematic views showing rthe various steps of the novel method pursued in the production of the scouring implement of Fig. 1.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are respectively schematic views showing vvariations of steps of -the method of production by which variously modified forms of the scouring implement may be obtained.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

.In making up thenovel scouring implement according .tothe method. of. this invention, `a suitable length and width of tubular knit metallic ,mesh fabric A (see Fig. 2) is provided. Said fabric A being preferably knit from ilat or ribbonlike wire, sharp edges of which provide for maximum abrasive eiciency. This metallic mesh fabric A is then manipulated to form intermediate itsends, and preferably substantially centrally therebetween, a somewhatloosely tied knot I9, thus` dividing the lengthrof the material into two oppositely extending end sections B and C (see Fig. 3) Atervthis, the end section C is turned or down-folded around the knot Iii, and drawn telescopically downward over and around Vthe end section B (see Fig. 4) This latter operation may be facilitated by first drawing the end section B over a supporting mandrel (not shown) until stopped by the ,knot lll, whereafter the end section kC may be easilyvturned over and around the knot l0 and drawn down over the `thus supported end section B. After the section C has been overlaidupon thesectionB as above ybe unitary therewith, with said knot iilling and closing the centerof said annular body portion (see Figs. 6 and 1) thus completing the scouring implementready for use.

The novel scouring implement thus produced possesses,roundedrexternal contours which comfortably fit it tothe grasp of the users hand when Vusing and Y.applying the same to surfaces desired to be cleaned or scoured therewith.

The novel formation of the scouring implement is such that the in-rolled annularv body portion i lv isselfiform retaining, and consequentlyv no use of extraneousfastening elements, such -as wire stitching or ties, rivets, staples or the like are required; and, furthermore, the closely surrounding disposition of .the annular body Il relative to. the knot l0, whereby the latter fills the interior of the former, assures a continuous non-raveling body mass without interruptions, openings or gaps in its Ysurface area, and consequently the implementis'little likely to stretch out of shape or become string-y under the stresses and strains of use. v

In the structure, the center knot lll serves as. an anchoragefrom which .the annular ,body portion vknot it, respectively extend from opposite sides of said knot so as to hold the knot reasonably secure against accidental outward displacement in either direction.

The scouring implement of this invention,

composed of tubular knit metallic mesh fabric, will be adequately resilient or compressible to assure conformance of an applied area thereof to a surface over which it is moved for abrasive cleaning or scouring effect; while at the same time providing interstitial or spongiform mass well adapted to take up and apply, to the surface undergoing treatment thereby, a cleansing uid or other cleansing material which may be desired to be utilized in the operative treatment of said surface.

T.t is a known fact that the inside surface of a tubular knit metallic mesh fabric is of rougher and therefore of better abrasive character than is the outside surface, due to the fact that the bights of knit loops project from said inside surface. This condition is taken advantage of in the construction of the instant scouring implement, for in the rolling of the annular body portion il thereof, the rougher and therefore more efficiently abrasive inner surface of the end section B becomes the outwardly presented and operative surface of the annular body formation Il.

The scouring emplement of this invention is especially well adapted for use in the industrial field; and to this end can be easily made in desired degrees of abrasive eiciency by knitting the material thereof from flat wire of selected hardness, and in selected knit loop size. For scouring operations in the industrial iield, it is highly desirable to provide a scouring implement which can be quickly, easily and thoroughly, and frequently if necessary, purged of accumulations of dirt or other material taken up thereby in use. This desideratum has been very effectively attained in the form and construction of scouring implement made according to the instant invention, since, to clean the implement itself, the annular body portion il may be quickly and easily unrolled to spread out and expose the entire length of its end sections B and C, either as superposed or as separated one from the other, whereby the areas thereof are readily accessible for thorough washing out or other cleaning operation; whereafter it is a simple, quick and easy matter to again roll said end sections back into the initial annular body portion ll which characterizes the body mass of the implement.

The above described method of producing the novel scouring implement of this invention is subject to some variation with resultant variations in specific although not in the generic form of the implement as above described. For example, the wear resistance of the implement, and resistance to accidental displacement of the center knot thereof, may be increased,'whereby to better adapt the implement for harder usage in connection with rough work. To accomplish this, one or both end sections, from which the annular body portion Il is formed, may be doubled into a two-ply arrangement prior to rolling said sections into said annular body portion. Illustrative arrangements of such character are shown in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive. As shown in Fig.

7, the end section B is folded lengthwise and back upon itself to provide a second ply Bl, and thereafter the end section C is telescoped over said two-ply section B-Bl, whereupon the thus assembledV sections are rolled (inthe direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 7) into the final annular body portion El. In this connection, it may be noted that the free end of the second ply Bl may be incorporated with or enveloped in the knot formation lll, if it be so desired. As shown in Fig. 8, both end sections B and C may be wrought into two-ply form, respectively comprising the plies B-Bi and C-Cl, prior to telescoping said end sections one over the other and then rolling the same into the annular body portion li. Here again, the free ends of the respective plies Bi and CI may be incorporated with or enveloped in the knot formation lil.

Another way of obtaining the plural ply end sections is disclosed in Fig. 9; this being done by first folding the initial length of tubular knit metallic mesh fabric back upon itself lengthwise to provide an initial two-ply body comprising plies P-Pl, whereafter the two-ply body or length of mesh fabric is tied to provide a center knot le from which extend two-ply sections B and C. This having been done the section C is telescoped over the section B, and then together rolled to form the annular body portion ll of the implement.

While plural ply sections comprising but two plies have been above described, it will be obvious that should more than two plies be desired with respect to either or both sections, additional lengthwise folds of the mesh fabric may be made to so provide.

t may also be pointed out that although knitted metallic mesh fabric has beenrdesignated as the base material from which the implement is to be made, such designation is not intended to preclude the use of a composite knitted mesh fabric, such as may be obtained by knitting together strands of metal or wire and vegetable or like yarn.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A scouring implement comprising a length of tubular knit metallic mesh fabric having a tied knot therein to provide an enlargement and end sections extending from said knot formed enlargement, one end section extendingV around said knot formed enlargement into telescopically superposed relation to the other end section, and said end sections, while in superposed relation, being upwardly rolled upon themselves to provide a self form retaining annular body portion closely surrounding said knot formed enlargenient and disposed so that said annular body portion and knot formed enlargement lie in substantially the same plane, said annular body portion being adapted t0 be unrolled and extended from the knot formed enlargement at willand again re-rolled. I

2. A scouring implement comprising a length of tubular knit metallic mesh fabric having a tied knot therein to provide an enlargement and end sections extending from said knot formed enlargement, at least one end Ysection being doubled back upon itself to provide the same with a plurality of plies, one end section extending around said knot formed enlargement into telescopically superposed relation tothe other end section, and said end sections, while in superposed relation, being upwardlyrolled upon themselves to provide a self form retaining annular body portion closely surrounding said knot formed enlargement and disposed so that said annular body portion and said knot formed enlargement lie in substantially the same plane, said annular body portion being adapted to be unrolled and extended from the knot formed enlargement at will and again re-rolled.

3. The method of producing a spongiform abrasive scouring implement of the kind described from a length of tubular knit metallic mesh fabric comprising first tying said length of fabric into a knot disposed intermediate its extremities, whereby to form a xed enlargement therein and to divide the length into two end sections respectively extending from opposite sides of the knot formed enlargement, then turning one said end section outwardly and downwardly over and around the knot formed enlargement and into telescoping superposed relation to the other end section, and finally upwardly rolling said telescoped end sections upon themselves, while in superposed relation, toward said knot formed enlargement, whereby to form an annular body portion which surrounds said knot formed enlargement, said annular body portion and knot formed enlargement being disposed to lie in substantially the same plane.

4. The method of producing a spongiform abrasive scouring implement of the kind described from a length of tubular knit metallic mesh fabric comprising first tying said length of fabric into a knot disposed intermediate its extremities, whereby to form a fixed enlargement therein and to divide the length into two end sections respectively extending from opposite sides of the knot formed enlargement, telescopically folding at least one end section back upon itself into plural ply arrangement, then turning one said end section outwardly and downwardly over and around the knot formed enlargement and into telescoping superposed relation to the other end section, and finally upwardly rolling said telescoped end sections upon themselves, while in superposed relation, toward said knot formed enlargement, whereby to form an annular body portion which surrounds said knot formed enlargement, said annular body portion and knot formed enlargement being disposed to lie in substantially the same plane.

5. The method of Aproducing a spongiform abrasive scouring implement of the kind described comprising telescoping a length of tubular knit metallic mesh fabric upon itself into a plural ply formation, then tying said formation into a knot disposed intermediate its extremities, whereby to form a fixed enlargement therein and to divide the formation into two end sections respectively extending from opposite sides of the knot formed enlargement, then turning one said end section outwardly and downwardly over and around the knot formed enlargement and into telescoping superposed relation to the other end section, and finally upwardly rolling said telescoped end sections upon themselves, While in superposed relation, toward said knot formed enlargement, whereby to form an annular body portion which surrounds said knot formed enlargement, said annular body portion and knot formed enlargement being disposed to lie in substantially the same plane.

ALFRED M. GOODLOE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

